Honda BF225A

When flushing fresh water through the flush port connector (not running) with garden hose, is the water flushing through the entire motor including the themostats or do I need to flush with ears (running) through the low water pickup to flush everything? I like to use salt-away to flush, but I've only used the flush port since I have a Bob's Nose Cone.

Thanks,

I don't have a definitive answer for you. I've heard both sides of that situation - flushing is essential and cleans out the saltwater from from the entire cooling system, and flushing doesn't do much good and doesn't get to the entire water system. I operate exclusively in saltwater and I do flush for at least 15 minutes after every use. Boat is housed on a lift. With 1850 hours on the engine since spring of 08, I have not had any corrosion problems that I am aware of.

The 200's and 225's will overheat when running on muffs hooked to a garden hose. Muffs just don't supply enough water to cool that beast. You can use a very large garbage can as a test tank as long as you make sure that the telltale water is diverted back into the can and the water level stays above the cavitation plate. Keep a hose running in the tank and don't let the water temperature get much over 100 degrees F.

I'll be pulling my boat next week for a 100 hour maintenance. If I remember, I'll pull the t-stats, hook up a hose to the flush port, and see if water comes out of the t-stat opening. I'll post the results on this forum.

I would definitely like to hear the result, Chawk. I would also like to know if flushing thru the port gets down to the mid shaft bearing. Wouldn't it be useless if flushing didn't get past the t-stats?

Good question. I suspect it does, but not sure. I don't plan to pull my lower unit this time around, but at the next 100 hour I will to change out the water pump. So it seems like I could hook up the flusher and observe just how much water comes onto the bushing.

I have 3085 hrs on twin 225 2002 motors flush everytime w garden hose... no signs of saltwater issues

I use a tub as well and hook up the garden hose and get a full pee streaming and no overheating.

aristakat said:

I have 3085 hrs on twin 225 2002 motors flush everytime w garden hose... no signs of saltwater issues

Click to expand...

Good to know.

No issues with mid-shaft bearing? How many times replaced?

Pair of 2007 V6's (175's) that were only flush port washed lasted nearly 5 years and 1000hrs before pin-holing the blocks. It is a known issue I believe. Honda were fantastic about it and replaced the power heads (long blocks) at minimal cost, but some research I did afterwards suggested that the flush ports don't reach several parts of the block. We now flush port after use and do a monthly saltaway flush via muffs. The boat lives in the water so the muff flush is a bit of a mission. Otherwise I would do it more often.

sorry for delay on question, I had minimal issues w regard mid shaft bearing , I change them frequent not worth taking chance for cost of bushing

I would recommend a warm/ running flush with muffs or trash can every once and a while. Just to give her a good clean out.

Your Honda 200 or 225 will overheat if run on muffs alone. A garden hose cannot provide enough water to adequately cool that beast. Test tank or in the fresh water is the only way to get it done.